Five reasons why climate change is real and is affecting Fort Collins
Climate change, arguably, is one of the most polarized issues in U.S. politics. Our society tend distrust, deny, and overlook the issue. Lack of personal impact or relationship contribute to people’s denial of climate change.
Climate denial should not be fully invalidated. Climate change’s effects and projections are only seen in decades. With no clear evidence of its proximity — both physical (such as time and place) or emotional — people are detached from the issue.
However, addressing the effects is highly critical as they are destructive. Our earth is suffering and science has found the connection: Warming temperatures, drought, and extreme weather patterns are visible evidence.
Still unsure? I’ll make this closer to you. Let’s take a look on how climate change is real and local in Fort Collins.
1. Irregular snow season — Denver’s first snowfall marked the latest since 1934
Colorado is known for its alpine destination — winter holidays are magical, whether skiing in Aspen or enjoying hot chocolate under the beautiful lights in Denver 16th Street mall.
This year, however, Colorado’s snow came late. Up until early December, Fort Collins only received 0.7 inches of snow, “compared with a normal of 12.4 inches by this time of year,” the Coloradoan reported. Down the I-25, Denver received their first measurable snow for this season on Dec. 10, 2021, crushing their previous latest snow record in 1934.
Although weather is often unpredictable, scientists found a relationship between irregular climate patterns with climate change. Late snow season affects all aspects of livelihood, especially those in alpine areas. One example is the delayed start to ski season this year.
2. Extreme weather and storms — are we even ready for them?
In the last three weeks, extreme snowstorms in northern Colorado caused two weather closure days issued by both Colorado State University and the Poudre School Districts, on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2. Evidently, this localized climate change’s impacts in Fort Collins.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency stated warmer temperature leads to heavier, more extreme precipitation. Excessive carbon emissions warm earth’s climate, creating disruption in the climate cycle.
The impact is clear from the school closures and the accident alert by Fort Collins police: Fort Collins is simply not ready with treatment plan and adequate infrastructure for natural disaster caused by climate change.
3. Animals have natural body clock too — mess with it, we lose it
Climate change affects all organisms, not just humans. For example, it directly affected the terrestrial birds in North America — increased temperature demands more thermoregulations in birds, disrupting their “maintenance, reproduction, time of breeding.”
In our own backyard, the American Pika is declining because of climate change. Pika’s survival depended directly on temperature and water-balance, which was disrupted by rapid climate change. They lives in alpine areas in western U.S. and have been moving upslope and dying faster in warmer weather, which is common for many mammals who called the Rocky Mountains home.
4. Wildfires — warming and burning? might be a bad idea
The forest is always prone to wildfire, and it is often a natural disaster. However, wildfires’ causes were intensified with climate change due to the warming temperature, dryness, and lack of snowpack.
Take a look at the Cameron Peak fire. The U.S Forest Service stated that “After 62 days of burning, on October 14, the Cameron Peak Fire became the largest recorded wildfire in Colorado’s history… [and] the first to burn more than 200,000 acres.”
The destruction was not only physical. Many people were deeply affected with the losses from the fire. The smoke and ashes covered Fort Collins for weeks, even months in some areas. Although climate change does not directly cause wildfires, it raises its possibility while toughen the effort to contain wildfires with dry weather and extreme temperatures.
5. Less snowpack, less water — Foco’s 2022 Earth Day is on water conservation, coincidence?
The warming temperature and irregular weather pattern is directly linked to droughts and rainstorms. There’s a drought in Colorado’s western plains, as the Colorado River Basin continues to get dryer.
Water is the source of life — all living organisms need water. Colorado relied on melting snowpack to conserve water during the spring and summer season. High carbon emissions caused rapid warming temperatures, which then caused the already-less snowpack to melt faster, causing water shortage.
Water crisis sheds light on climate change issues and sustainability practices. Fort Collins has started a movement toward sustainability. For example, the city’s 2022 Earth Day featured “Shift Your Water,” a movement focused on conserving water both indoors and outdoors.
We can argue about the reality of climate change, but we cannot overlook the evidence and scientific reasoning. Climate change affects all people — in fact all living organisms — no denying its aftermath.
It is not a political question of its existence rather the awareness of its effect — these droughts, storms, and warming temperatures affecting all lives negatively. We need to move forward and mitigate these impacts by creating a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan regardless of one’s political belief.
